TeachersFirst Update Archives

ISTEis officially here. If you are in Philadelphia, be sure to stop by the Source For Learning Booth #1512 in the exhibit hall or visit one of our sessions listed below. If you cannot afford a trip to Philadelphia, we can help! We will be sharing an OK2Ask® On Demand webcast from ISTE. Plan to watch and listen to teachers as they share their fabulous ISTE discoveries. It is almost like being there—without the airfare. Mark your calendars now! The OK2Ask On Demand link will be front and center on the TeachersFirst home page after the conference.

If you are going, plan to meet up with us there. Why not attend one of the sessions, listed below. Be sure to stop by our booth in the exhibit hall #1512. You might just earn a free t-shirt!

OK2Ask Summer 2015 - Register Today
Summer OK2Ask sessions resume in early July and will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays for five weeks. All regular summer sessions begin at 6pm EDT. OK2Ask® is a series of free, online sessions for self-directed professional development. Learn more about OK2Ask. Registration is now open for all summer sessions.

Teaching about TeachersFirst?
Summer is PD season. If you feature TeachersFirst in teacher professional development workshops, teach a grad class about us, or coach teachers about TeachersFirst in your role as a technology integration specialist, we can help. Complete this form telling us where you plan to feature TeachersFirst. We will send out TeachersFirst cards and an ever-popular Thinking Teacher T-Shirt for qualifying sessions. Compete the form NOW to be sure supplies do not run out.

What is Your Pick?
What is one gift that you would like to give your students this summer? Would you like your students to be able to have a chance to travel? Maybe you just wish they would have an adult available who cares. Possibly the greatest gift would be extra school help to stay fresh. This week’s Teacher Poll asks: What is one gift that you would like to give your students this summer? Place your vote on the teacher poll on the TeachersFirst home page.

Summer Sparklers for Students
Some schools may already be finished for the year; others have a few weeks to go. If you are preparing for a late June departure, NOW is the time to share the TeachersFirst Summer Sparklers with parents and students. Prevent “summer slide” while inspiring creativity (and learning) with this handpicked collection of creative tools, clever sites, individualized challenges, and interactives for all ages. Put the link on your summer learning web page and share it in your monthly e-newsletter. Parents will appreciate it!

How to Stay Cool
July is almost here and it will probably be a hot one! How will you stay cool: the air-conditioner, a pool, a creek, the ocean, or something else? The XW1W question for the week of June 28: How will you stay cool during the heat of the summer?

Make this the year you make a class Twitter account to learn from classes near and far. Your students can hear about life in other places and cultures through #XW1W. TeachersFirst’s Across the World Once a Week (#xw1w) project uses simple tweets (or links to blog posts) to share the responses to a weekly question. Help your class “see” what life is like in other places. It all works because of something called a hashtag. Learn how to get started with these simple directions and FAQ.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are reading this July 5 or later, the link above will take you to the Featured Sites for the current week. Find the archived June 28 Features here, and don’t miss our many other recent additions from the link at the bottom of the Featured Sites page.

Don’t forget; if you are at ISTE 2015 (in Philadelphia) be sure to stop by the Source For Learning Booth #1512. We look forward to meeting many new people and seeing some familiar faces.